'Thoda bura to lagta hai' - Umesh Yadav opens up about not getting enough chances in the Indian team

Back in 2010, when Umesh Yadav burst out in the scene, he was likely to be India’s next big fast bowler. He had pace, bounce and everything else quality fast bowler needs. However, the Vidarbha pacer didn’t really the ‘choice of pacers’ in the Indian line-up over the years.

Umesh Yadav has always had a start-stop career where he hasn’t really featured for India regularly. In an interview, he opened up regarding his inconsistent run in the Indian team, along with how he manages these things.

Umesh Yadav said that he used to feel really bad in the past sitting on the sidelines and watching India play. However, with time Umesh understood that if he falls into self-pity, then he won’t be able to perform when he gets his chance.

“Thoda kharaab, buraa toh lagta hai (I do feel bad) that you aren’t getting as many chances,” Umesh told Indian Express.

“I used to feel a bit down in the past about sitting on the sidelines and watching. But it’s important that you make yourself understand the situation. I realised that it’s not healthy if I slip into pity. That feeling isn’t good as you won’t be able to perform well when you get a chance,” he added.

‘I haven’t been used properly by selectors in ODIs’: Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav also lauded the three pacers, Ishant Sharma Mohammed Shami and Jasrpit Bumrah, who are currently the frontline pacers in the side and said that they bowling really well.

“You can’t complain too much as the other three- Ishant (Sharma), (Mohammed) Shami and (Jasprit) Bumrah are bowling well. So I can understand that for team management, getting the right balance wouldn’t be easy. I hardly get two matches in a row. Unless you play more in those conditions, you will not learn more about those conditions,” said Yadav.

According to Umesh, selectors haven’t used him properly in the one-day format. He feels that he gets a game here and there and then he is left for another 6 months. “I do feel I haven’t been used properly by selectors in ODIs. Get a game here and there, then sit out for six months. It does get difficult. Career has never been stable. Always up and down. I did well at the 2015 World Cup, but then again out”, the 32-year-old pacer pointed out.

At the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Umesh Yadav picked up 18 wickets from eight matches. Surprisingly, Umesh Yadav, after the World Cup, didn’t play a lot of limited-overs cricket for India.

However, Yadav did say, “It’s been a dream journey. Life has given me more than I have asked of it.” Umesh Yadav has played 46 test matches till now and picked up 144 wickets. In 75 ODI, he has 106 wickets while he has played only seven T20Is and picked nine wickets in them.